Fran Kinne's custom-built Steinway sees first official recital at Bertha Bartlett library

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct Fran's husband's name.

Fran Kinne’s Steinway piano at the Bertha Bartlett Public Library was recently used in its first official recital since it arrived at its new home.

“The Steinway piano, a gift from the estate of Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne, allowed the students a first-hand experience with a big sound in a very intimate setting,” Kolleen Taylor, BBPL director, said.

Students of Milianna Carlson were on the program for the recital. Pianists included Riley Lucas, Andrew Leo, Cyndy Thiel, Henry Stinn, Maddyn Johnson, Peter Leo, Isaac Dahl, Joshua Dahl, Alice Thiel and Kelsey Johnston.

Kinne bequeathed more than $5 million to organizations in Story City, her beloved hometown. The piano is arguably one of the most personal items that her vast estate gifted.

Related: 'A grand lady': Fran Kinne estate gives $4.4 million to her Iowa hometown of Story City

“It’s a great piano,” said Eric Nelson, a relative of Kinne’s and co-executor of her estate.

The Steinway Model A was custom-built for Kinne in Hamburg, Germany, in 1955.

“She went into Steinway and they measured her touch and selected the design of the piano to match her touch,” he said. “She got to pick the material – it’s ebony.”

Fran’s husband Harry's family lived in the same neighborhood as the Steinway family.

“So when it came time for her to get a real piano, there was only one choice,” Nelson said.

Throughout her life, Kinne found success at high levels in education, becoming the first female dean of a fine arts college in the United States, and the first female president of a Florida university (she served as president of Jacksonville University from 1979 to 1989). She later served as chancellor there.

She started her college education studying music at Drake University, then became a music teacher for several schools.

Kinne died in May of 2020, weeks shy of her 103rd birthday. Until just months prior to her death, Kinne remained active at the university and on the several boards on which she served.

The Bertha Bartlett Public Library was named after Kinne’s mother, who was the first paid librarian in Story City. The library has a Kinne Wing, which holds her piano.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Fran Kinne's Steinway sees first recital at Bertha Bartlett library